Hawaii Apostille FAQs

A Hawaii Apostille is a certificate that is affixed by the Hawaii Secretary of State to a public document. It certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized Hawaii public official and confirms the capacity of that official (e.g. State Registrar, notary public).

Apostille stamps are often required when submitting a Hawaii document, such as a birth certificate, to the authorities of a foreign country or to a foreign embassy in the United States (for example, as part of a visa or citizenship application). Apostilles are recognised by the authorities and embassies of countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention

For more information on Apostilles, see:
The ABCs of Apostilles (PDF)

Hawaii Apostilles are normally obtained in 7-10 business days

Apostilles to authenticate Hawaii marriage certificates and other vital records take 3-4 weeks including the time taken for a new certificate to be issued.

Hawaii apostilles can be issued to authenticate state public documents printed or embossed with the Hawaii State Seal or a Hawaii State Department Seal, including:

• Hawaii marriage certificates
• Hawaii birth, death and divorce certificates.
• Driving Records.
• Certificates of Good Standing and other certified business documents (including Articles of Organization).

The document must be certified by the original signature of the official administrator of that document such as the document custodian, or the record clerk attesting that the document is an official record or a true copy of the original document.

Private documents can be authenticated with a Hawaii Apostille Stamp when certified by a Hawaii Notary Public and by the circuit court.

If documents are required for submission to the authorities or consulate of a signatory country of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille stamp affixed by the Secretary of State of Hawaii will generally be recognized directly as confirming authenticity, although a certified translation may also be required if presenting to a country that does not have English as an official language.

If documents are required for presentation in a country that is not a signatory to the apostille convention (e.g. United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Taiwan, Vietnam), then an apostille stamp is not valid. Documents will need to be authenticated at State level in Hawaii, then by the State Department Authentication Division, and finally by the embassy or consulate of the destination country in the United States. A Certified Translation may also be required.

For further information about Hawaii apostilles and authentications or to obtain a quote for assistance submitting your documents, with free eligibility pre-check, international collection and delivery by courier, please Contact us or send us your documents using our Online Quotation Form.

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Hawaii will not issue an apostille to certify existing copies of a birth, death or marriage certificate. A new certificate must be ordered from the Hawaii State Department of Health to be issued with an Apostille or Authentication Certificate (Applications by Mail Only).
Apostille Hawaii Vital Records

Isarey can assist with obtaining Hawaii marriage certificates and other vital records issued with apostille stamps and authentication certificates.

A Hawaii Certificate of Good Standing can be obtained from Hawaii Business Express then certified with an Apostille Stamp issued by the Hawaii Lieutenant Governor in Honolulu

Hawaii criminal history record checks can be name-based or fingerprint-based and can be obtained from the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center.

• Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center
• FAQs - Criminal History Record Checks

Hawaii university degree certificates, course transcripts and high school diplomas can also be authenticated as notarized copies. A true copy is certified by a notary (this can often be done from a scan without having to submit the original) and then authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Washington DC Secretary of State. Authenticated documents can also be attested by the embassies of Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.

For further information, see:
University Degrees and School Records

Documents, such as affidavits and powers of attorney, certified by a Hawaii Notary Public must be certified by the Circuit Court where the notary is registered. Once the notary's signature has been certified by the Circuit Court, the document can be submitted to the Hawaii Lieutenant Governor in Honolulu for authentication with an Apostille Stamp.

A Hawaii power of attorney or affidavit must be certified by a Hawaii Notary Public and the notary's signature by the Circuit Court where the notary is registered. An Apostille Stamp or Authentication Certificate can then be obtained from the office of the Hawaii Lieutenant Governor in Honolulu.